Sexual Tension in Books

Hello everyone! First let me just say a huge thank you to Delilah for letting me take over today!! I’m really excited to be here! Today I’m going to talk about different forms of sexual tension. A few months ago I did an online chat where I talked about adding emotion to your sex scenes. During the chat one of my side topics was sexual tension. Since then I have started a new manuscript where the sexual tension is thick enough to cut with a butter knife.

There are many ways to add sexual tension. Such as adding more serious conflicts between the main characters or on the other end of the spectrum having the characters have no conflicts except wanting each other can add tension. I prefer to have my characters bickering. Now, I was once told that bickering isn’t an element strong enough to build a plot on. That’s true, however using that as a character trait is different. Having a couple with a major plot is your main concept but giving them a trait where when near each other they bicker can create friction between them. That friction can be just the beginning to passion.

That is just one way to create sexual tension. Some authors keep characters touching. A stroke of a hand down an arm will do it. Sometimes the gentle press of lips near flesh but never touching. And even a certain glance will create tension. Little gestures go a long way in tying characters together with readers.

Adding an emotional element to any form of creating sexual tension will draw your readers deeper into the relationship. As a reader I know that what ties me to a character is how something affects that character emotionally. When that character is fighting with the other how does she feel? What are her hidden emotions? By bringing those hidden emotions to your readers they will connect your readers to your characters.

Those emotions can be presented in the smallest ways. Just a thought here or there. A slight sigh. A cuss. A blink. Those little actions can reveal emotions that are behind the sexual tension.

What are things you look for as a reader when it comes to tension,
relationships, or traits?

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The winner (by random number generator) is…Christy M! Christy, email me with your address so I can get your package into the mail! Congrats!

I do love sexual tension between my characters especially when they have to fight so hard to come to terms that they are so attractive to each other.

I also wanted to say I was looking at your beautiful covers and they are just gorgeous. As far as the fugly ring contest I think the ring is beautiful. I go to coventions where I dress up in Historical Tudor clothing. The ring that you show would go great with some of the gowns that I wear when I’m in costume. So I don’t think the ring looks hideous.

Sayde! I love banter. I don’t mind sniping, so long as we know what’s going on inside the hero and heroine’s head. And especially when how they are touching each other contrasts to what they are saying.

I love sexual tension in a story. When the characters notice minute things about each other. For instance, in Victorian romance when the hero notices the pulse in the heroine’s neck. Or that a wisp of hair has come out of her pins so he reaches up to tuck it behind her ear. Good sexual tension can really make the story work.

I love it when characters begin “picking on and at each other.”
They want to express their feelings for each other but are
unable to do so adequately. Thus they begin to tease or bully
each other, ofttimes getting in some humorous verbal “hits” on each other! Call it banter or mockery or repartee – I love it!